Track of the Day: “People are Strange” – The Doors

By HERMINIA IRIZARRY

When you think of something scary, images from horror movies or the thought of creepy crawlies usually come to mind. Songs are seldom thought of as being scary.

While “People are Strange” doesn’t exactly require you to run under the covers or wet your pants while listening, it does have an eerie, haunting quality.

Released in 1967 off of “Strange Days,” the song is about alienation and loneliness. Some believe Jim Morrison wrote it during a bout of depression, while others believe it was written during an acid trip. Although the origin of the song is highly debated, one thing is clear – the song is creepy.

Morrison’s deep, monotone voice haunts the listener and the kooky instrumentals sound like they belong in a Tim Burton animated film. The guitar solo during the introduction is slow and sets up an eerie pace for the rest of the song.

The song’s abrupt ending leaves listeners waiting for a resolution to the strangeness that they will never get.

In the post-Halloween spirit, The Doors’ “People are Strange” is definitely one that should be on every party’s playlist.

With only seven different lines repeated in the entire song, the lyrics are extremely catchy and Morrison’s voice haunts you for days: “When you’re strange / Faces come out of the rain / When you’re strange / When you’re strange.”